David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the mechanisms available to enable dual enrolment to occur to assist special needs students to make the transition from special needs schools to ordinary primary schools by spending a number of days per week in each school; the procedures and assistance involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26601/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have a formal policy facilitating dual enrolment. Children with special educational needs may transfer from special schools to special classes attached to ordinary primary school or to mainstream classes where they may attend on a fully integrated basis with the support of the resource teacher and special needs assistant service. In considering such transfers, it would be important to have regard to the professionally assessed needs of the child involved and his or her capacity to function successfully in the more integrated setting. In addition, children with special educational needs in special schools or special classes also attend mainstream classes on a part-time basis in line with their abilities and local arrangements are made by the relevant boards of management.

However, the concept of dual enrolment raises a range of practical issues which require careful consideration. These issues relate to such matters as the manner in which staffing and funding resources allocated in respect of such children should be apportioned between two schools catering for the same pupil for limited periods. Issues relating to capitation funding and entitlement to special transport services would also arise.

The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department is in the process of carrying out a review of special schools and classes. The initial part of the review involves the collection and collation of information and views from relevant schools in relation to the operation of special schools and special classes. The second phase of the review will be managed by the National Council for Special Education and will involve wider consultation with the schools and other partners. It is expected that the issue of dual enrolment will arise as part of this exercise.